As the library profession protects privacy and confidentiality, we have found that the public does not always appreciate our principles. That is, although American citizens learn through daily news reports that government agencies and corporate entities are observing, monitoring, collecting, recording, and mining private and confidential information about them without their consent, many persons appear to be willing to trade their privacy for a greater sense of security or even convenience.

As the library profession protects privacy and confidentiality, we have found that the public does not always appreciate our principles. That is, although American citizens learn through daily news reports that government agencies and corporate entities are observing, monitoring, collecting, recording, and mining private and confidential information about them without their consent, many persons appear to be willing to trade their privacy for a greater sense of security or even convenience.

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We want to educate the general public about “the eternal value of privacy,” as Schneier terms this essential freedom. http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70886-0.html And we need to understand how the public views privacy and related issues of security and transparency.

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We want to educate the general public about ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂthe eternal value of privacy,ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂ as Schneier terms this essential freedom. http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70886-0.html And we need to understand how the public views privacy and related issues of security and transparency.

A special ad hoc IFRT task force, chaired by Carolyn Caywood, will organize to begin framing the issue for a national deliberation on privacy. Anyone with an interest in either privacy issues or civic engagement is invited to join! Contact Carolyn at ccaywood@vbgov.com for more information.

A special ad hoc IFRT task force, chaired by Carolyn Caywood, will organize to begin framing the issue for a national deliberation on privacy. Anyone with an interest in either privacy issues or civic engagement is invited to join! Contact Carolyn at ccaywood@vbgov.com for more information.

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Framing the issue of privacy will be the most important and difficult step. How an issue is framed can illuminate or bias deliberation as well as make it boring or stimulating. It is critically important that all points of view, values, and concerns be brought to the table before framing begins. Typically a fully framed issue will not meet the expectations of the people who began the process.

Framing the issue of privacy will be the most important and difficult step. How an issue is framed can illuminate or bias deliberation as well as make it boring or stimulating. It is critically important that all points of view, values, and concerns be brought to the table before framing begins. Typically a fully framed issue will not meet the expectations of the people who began the process.

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Framing begins, not with information, but with feelings. We need to ask, “What concerns you when you think of privacy? How do you feel about it? What values are affected by too much privacy or too little?” And we need to ask people with every imaginable point of view until we hear nothing new any more. Then the issues and concerns and feelings and values are grouped by similarity. The groups are consolidated until 3 to 5 choices appear. I am hoping that those who gather at Midwinter can then gather answers from the public for a meeting at Annual.

+

Framing begins, not with information, but with feelings. We need to ask, ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂWhat concerns you when you think of privacy? How do you feel about it? What values are affected by too much privacy or too little?ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂ And we need to ask people with every imaginable point of view until we hear nothing new any more. Then the issues and concerns and feelings and values are grouped by similarity. The groups are consolidated until 3 to 5 choices appear. I am hoping that those who gather at Midwinter can then gather answers from the public for a meeting at Annual.

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Once we have arrived at the choices that reflect what really matters to the public we have framed the issue. Then we will assemble a discussion guide and encourage libraries to hold forums. This process clearly will take a while, but it is important that at each step we really listen instead of assuming we know what is on people’s minds.

+

Once we have arrived at the choices that reflect what really matters to the public we have framed the issue. Then we will assemble a discussion guide and encourage libraries to hold forums. This process clearly will take a while, but it is important that at each step we really listen instead of assuming we know what is on peopleÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂs minds.

Here are some resources on deliberation and on privacy:

Here are some resources on deliberation and on privacy:

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* [[Bridgewater, Rachel]]

* [[Bridgewater, Rachel]]

* [[Smith, Felicia]]

* [[Smith, Felicia]]

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* Trapskin, Ben

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* [[Trapskin, Ben]]

* Tsai, Janice

* Tsai, Janice

* [[User:Caleb|Tucker-Raymond, Caleb]]

* [[User:Caleb|Tucker-Raymond, Caleb]]

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[http://www.epic.org/ EPIC (electronic privacy information center)]

[http://www.epic.org/ EPIC (electronic privacy information center)]

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The first 1,000 hits for 'privacy' on Yahoo! Search in a [http://www.stealthislibrary.com/privacy word cloud] - not much to start with, but could be a fun idea to explore.

Latest revision as of 15:36, 8 January 2009

Contents

Description

How does the public view privacy and the related issues of security and transparency and how can we frame the discussion to share our views with the public?

A National Discussion on Privacy

As the library profession protects privacy and confidentiality, we have found that the public does not always appreciate our principles. That is, although American citizens learn through daily news reports that government agencies and corporate entities are observing, monitoring, collecting, recording, and mining private and confidential information about them without their consent, many persons appear to be willing to trade their privacy for a greater sense of security or even convenience.

We want to educate the general public about ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂthe eternal value of privacy,ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂ as Schneier terms this essential freedom. http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70886-0.html And we need to understand how the public views privacy and related issues of security and transparency.

A special ad hoc IFRT task force, chaired by Carolyn Caywood, will organize to begin framing the issue for a national deliberation on privacy. Anyone with an interest in either privacy issues or civic engagement is invited to join! Contact Carolyn at ccaywood@vbgov.com for more information.

Framing the issue of privacy will be the most important and difficult step. How an issue is framed can illuminate or bias deliberation as well as make it boring or stimulating. It is critically important that all points of view, values, and concerns be brought to the table before framing begins. Typically a fully framed issue will not meet the expectations of the people who began the process.

Framing begins, not with information, but with feelings. We need to ask, ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂWhat concerns you when you think of privacy? How do you feel about it? What values are affected by too much privacy or too little?ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂ And we need to ask people with every imaginable point of view until we hear nothing new any more. Then the issues and concerns and feelings and values are grouped by similarity. The groups are consolidated until 3 to 5 choices appear. I am hoping that those who gather at Midwinter can then gather answers from the public for a meeting at Annual.

Once we have arrived at the choices that reflect what really matters to the public we have framed the issue. Then we will assemble a discussion guide and encourage libraries to hold forums. This process clearly will take a while, but it is important that at each step we really listen instead of assuming we know what is on peopleÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂs minds.